The wedding cake is not only a beautiful piece of work to satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth, it’s a wedding icon for you and your fiancee.  Your cake is part of your decorations, memories, and food. Here are some helpful tips to help you choose your perfect wedding cake:

Talking to the Bakery

The Basics – Make sure that your bakery specializes in wedding cakes because they are much more elaborate than any ordinary cakes.  Inquire if they have your wedding date open to deliver the cake to your venue.  They should have enough time that day to make the drive and the delivery without having to stress out about their other orders.  Inquire about guarantees and what the bakery will do if the cake is damaged while being transported.

Money – How do they charge for weddings?  Some bakeries charge per person, while others charge based on the design, flavors, and how difficult it is to assemble your cake.  Find out when and how much you have to put down for the deposit and when the final payment is due.  Also inquire about refunds if you are unhappy with the cake or services provided.

Sampling – Make sure to check out pictures of sample cakes so you know that you like your baker’s style and design.  Find out whether or not they can decorate the cake table for you and make sure they fully set up the cake.  Taste test EVERYTHING before you sign a contract!  Make sure that you like the cake flavors, icing, and fillings.  Also ensure that you like your combination of all three since they taste different separately and together.  It would be a good idea to ask for a few references from weddings so that you could call couples that have used this bakery and ensure the quality of the cake and services are up to par.

Wedding Cake Decorations

Decorate your wedding cake to match your style.  You choose what you like and what matches the rest of your decor.  Sometimes the bakery may try to persuade you to go one way or the other to make decorating the cake easier on them, but if you like something, just get it.  This is the most important dessert of your life!

Flowers and Fruits – Marzipan paste is typically used for flowers and fruits on cake decorations.  It is a type of icing that can be easily colored and is very sugary.  On the other hand, there’s also gum paste, which can make more realistic looking flowers and fruits that last for years.  You need to decide which type of icing suits your desired taste and style.

Dragees – The traditional tiny, hard silver, gold, or white balls that sit atop a beautiful white wedding cake.  These small spheres are edible and give your cake a traditional touch.  Your baker can be creative by using this old-fashioned design in a creative way to give your cake a touch of old elegance.

Intricate Designs – Things like shells, polka dots, and basketweave on cake decorations are generally made from piping.  This is an icing that can be dispensed through different tips to create unique and detailed designs on your wedding cake.

Roses and Bows – These common designs at generally made from pulled sugar icing.  It is very malleable and leaves cake decorations looking shiny and sleek.

Cake Toppers – An important piece of advice to save money is NOT to order cake toppers or any plastic or glass decorations for the cake from the bakery.  Typically, bakery decor like these will be way more expensive than cake decorations from Michaels, Tall Mouse, or your local craft store.

Be creative, excited, and tastful when choosing your wedding cake.  This dessert is a beautiful piece of art that you will never forget.  Getting the right cake is as easy as these simple tips just mentioned, so this may be one of the easiest things you do when planning your wedding.  Just be ready with an idea of what types of flavors and decorations your want on your wedding cake.  Are your taste buds ready?

Picture of the beautiful Cherry Blossom Wedding Cake provided by Brandy from Sweet Temptations.